Calke Abbey (Hansard, 13 March 1984)

§ Mr. Patrick Jenkin

[pursuant to the reply, 23 January 1984, c. 406]: The chairman of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Lord Charteris, has reported to me the results of the meetings he has held with a variety of bodies with a major interest in the preservation of Calke. Taking into account the levels of grant which could be expected 76W for eligible items (notably repairs grant from the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England) and also promised contributions from the Harpur-Crewe trustees, the National Trust and the National Heritage Memorial Fund amounting to some £3 million, Lord Charteris's group has identified the need for a further sum of about £3.5 million to meet the National Trust's financial requirement to establish an assured future for the preservation of the house, the park, the contents and effective display to the public. The trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund have taken the view that they cannot increase their contribution unless further resources are made available to them.

My Department has given further consideration to the area of land adjoining Calke Abbey which would qualify for acceptance as being of heritage quality in lieu of tax. In the light of further evidence on archaeological and scientific importance, as well as its historic link with the house, we are now willing to accept a slightly larger area of adjoining land than had been previously agreed. This revised area conforms with recommendations made by the Nature Conservancy Council and the Historic Buildings Council, following a detailed appraisal. The revenue which the additional land produces will make a small reduction in the financing requirements of the National Trust. The expenditure required from my Vote and that of my noble Friend the Minister for the Arts, for the acceptance of Calke Abbey, its contents and the revised area of adjoining land is estimated to be of the order of £2 million.

I am pleased to be able to announce a further payment of £1.3 million to the National Heritage Memorial Fund in this financial year in addition to the existing provision. Moreover, in 1984–85 a further £5 million will be made available for payment to the fund in addition to the £3 million which my noble Friend and I have already agreed. An additional £2 million will be allocated for the acceptance of property in lieu. These increases will be funded within the public expenditure totals published last month in Cmnd. 9153. ("The Government's Expenditure Plans 1984–85 to 1986–87"). I understand that the availability of these additional sums to the fund will enable the trustees to make an increased contribution towards the cost of preserving and maintaining Calke Abbey, thus meeting the National Trust's requirements to secure it for public enjoyment in perpetuity. In addition, the enhanced financing for the National Heritage Memorial Fund I have referred to above provides for the fund a greater amount than that required purely to finance the preservation of Calke, reflecting the Government's assessment of the varied, valuable and important work which the NHMF does more generally.

Against this background, the Government are now willing to agree to the acceptance of Calke Abbey and the associated property in lieu of tax, and to allocate it to the National Trust. I am most grateful to Lord Charteris for all his efforts to secure agreement from a wider partnership to a package which enables Calke Abbey to be preserved, at a lower cost to public resources than had originally been proposed.